Acceptance and tolerance leads to inner and outer peace. Let’s make it our business to practice a little more acceptance for the holidays and for the new year.

Acceptance has so many meanings. It can mean respecting someone’s religious beliefs, choices and culture. Acceptance can mean being at peace—in one’s own heart and mind—and with the world at large. Acceptance can mean tolerance with the mindset that everyone should have the right to follow their own unique spiritual path or otherwise.

Why is acceptance important?

Once you step experience beauty of acceptance—peace prevails. It’s said that love is the highest form of understanding. Once you understand and accept something or someone…only then can you truly love it or them. Realize that no one is “perfect” (including you), yet everyone is on this life journey together, all trying to make sense of this beautiful odyssey. Let’s do it together with unity and harmony at the core of our existence.

Here are some affirmations to to ignite the power of acceptance into your heart.

I accept and love myself unconditionally.

I accept others exactly for who they are.

I wish everyone I encounter the best.

I give blessings to my global family.

We’re all in this together.

I respect the beliefs of others and look for the good in everyone.

I accept my life the way it is.

I accept that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have.

Today I will practice patience and loving kindness to everyone I encounter.

I practice goodness and treat everyone with respect.

I am open to other’s opinions.

I celebrate the diversity of life.

I see the beauty in every culture.

I send blessings/prayers to my human family.

I am one with everything and everyone.

Bess O’Connor, a certified Ayurvedic and Holistic Health Practitioner, explores the heart of health at the core of alternative medicine, massage therapy, conscious movement, nutrition, meditation and other healing traditions.